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» Listings for August 2015

Synopsis: 'Silently dipping his oars in the water he made his escape. It was a weary journey, with few spoils to show for it. Next time he would do better. He looked back over his shoulder. The bridge had disappeared, swallowed up by the darkness. From its walkway he too had become invisible. Only the bloody body of a woman showed he had been roaming the streets that night.' DI Ian Peterson investigates a series of gruesome and brutal murders in York. As the body count mounts, the case demands all Ian's ingenuity, because these are murders seemingly committed at random, and this is a killer who leaves no clues

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: There is a warrior lurking around York and within the first few chapters we have the most grisly crime scene played out in all its gory glory. The first few chapters are pretty absorbing and I would imagine quite a draw for a reader who maybe hasn’t read any of Leigh Russell’s books in the Ian Peterson series. Clues are lacking at the beginning although the only thing that seems to make sense is that the murder is somehow linked to a Viking Museum.

Synopsis: When a tragedy breaks a family apart, what can bring it back together?

The Birds seem to be the perfect family: mother, father, four children, a picture-book cottage in the country. But when something happens one Easter weekend, it is so unexpected, so devastating, that no one can talk about it. The family shatters, seemingly for ever. Until they are forced to return to the house they grew up in. And to confront what really took place all those years ago.

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: The Bird Family on the surface seems to have it all. However this book tells the tale of what goes on behind closed doors. Loreli and her husband Colin have 4 children – Megan. Bethan, and twins Rhys and Rory. The descriptions of their beautiful and rambling house in the Cotswolds made me want to visit. The story actually spans over a long time frame continuously flicking back and forth in time frames. This is down with ease and you feel like you are peeling back layers with each part of the story that is revealed. Other than that in terms of story I really don’t want to elaborate for fear of ruining the element of surprise.

The synopsis gives away very little and I think this adds to the beauty of reading the story with no idea of what will happen. There is an element of sadness to Lisa Jewell’s books which makes them pretty realistic and poignant and this one is no different. Loreli has become an obsessive hoarder and this element of the story and how it impacted her family made for absorbing reading. This book was full of intrigue and the characters made you not want to put the book down. It wasn’t the best Lisa Jewell book I have read, however a fantastically solid read that will keep you turning the pages.

Synopsis: Love is an open door...except when it keeps slamming in your face Hopeless romantic Milly Rose has had her fair share of heartbreak. Obsessed with all things Disney, she refuses to give up on finding her Prince Charming - he's out there somewhere, isn't he? When Milly is given a job to investigate the origins of a historical building in the village of Clover's Rest, she's not sure what to expect. What she discovers takes her breath away - a beautiful real life Cinderella castle, complete with turrets, a magnificent drawbridge AND a very handsome owner...Cameron Heartstone. As Milly and Cameron begin to unearth the secrets of Clover Castle, they can't ignore the intense chemistry building between them. But they've both been hurt badly before. Can they take a big leap of faith and find their own happily-ever-after? A deliciously enchanting read that will delight fans of Rachael Lucas, Lucy Diamond and Miranda Dickinson or anyone who has ever blubbed at a Disney movie. Who says real life can't be a fairytale?

She sees the teenage girl on the train platform, standing in the pouring rain, clutching an infant in her arms. She boards a train and is whisked away. But she can't get the girl out of her head…

An act of kindness

Heidi has always been charitable but her family are horrified when she returns home with a young woman named Willow and her baby in tow. Dishevelled and homeless, this girl could be a criminal - or worse. But despite the family's objections, Heidi offers them refuge.

A tangled web of lies

As Willow begins to get back on her feet, disturbing clues into her past starts to emerge. Now Heidi must question if her motives for helping the stranger are unselfish or rooted in her own failures.

Okay I know people are probably wondering what on earth I am writing about a Publisher for. Well if you want to know you need to read on.

I've been book Blogging and reviewing for nearly 7 years now, and around 3-4 years ago certain publishers would contact me asking me if I would like to read and review their titles to get in touch. Now people who are relatively new to Blogging are probably going through exactly the same now. To an avid reader, especially one that has a Blog, this can seem like all your dreams come true. However, what many people don't realise is that Publishing and the people that have to constantly promote can be fickle.

Many times I have been on Publishers lists and constantly bombarded with offers of Book Blog Tours and review copies, however one book and one tour does NOT guarantee that they remember you or even keep you updated. Me...I work full time AND run a business so am constantly catching up on emails, meaning some would slip through the net. Over time some publishers didn't bother emailing me back when I would inquire about authors or releases, and others just fobbed me off. With one exception....yep Bookouture.

Back in 2013 I received an email from a guy named Oliver Rhodes, who happens to be the MD and founder of Bookouture. He asked me if I wanted to read and review a book by an author called Nancy Barone, which I did. Since then it seems like love blossomed...between me and Bookoture, not me and Oliver I hasten to add:-) I read and reviewed that book and then shortly after I got chatting to Kim Nash, better known to me at the time as Kim The Bookworm.

What I didn't realise at the time was that she was also a Freelance Publicity Manager who was working in conjunction with Bookouture. Since then, I have read a good 80% of the authors who are published by them. I even gained a new online BFF in the form of the wonderful Sue Watson.

Today I started a book by one of their authors Holly Martin and literally just finished it....MAGNIFICENT! It got me thinking about Bookoture and how far they have come as a Publisher and they are always my first 'go to' on Net Galley and the like. Kim has been absolutely wonderful in helping us Bloggers by giving us auto approvals for books and not pressuring any of us. She has been an absolute Gem of a woman who works tirelessly it seems for ALL the authors, including what seems to be an ever growing list of them. Even though she ALWAYS forgets to share my Facebook posts I forgive her because I think she may be a Fairy Godmother in disguise!

Not only that, but Bookoture are seriously good at this. This year alone they have got some AWESOME authors and I think these bigger Publishing Houses need to watch their back, and also take a note out of their book. This little blog post was just my way of promoting them for a change. They seem to do all the work and never get anything back in return, so this is my way of saying a MASSIVE thank you to Bookouture, especially Kim for doing what they do best.

If you are interested in their authors you can find links to their website at the bottom, but to make life easy I will list their authors here and their relevant pages. Do yourself a favour and look them up as they have some serious talent going on over there.

Kat x

I have taken the liberty of putting some of my most recent Reviews in here too.

A Sister's Promise by Renita D'Silva

Synopsis: Two sisters. Bound by blood. Torn apart by love. My sister - the glue that held our family together and the gatekeeper to the memories of our shared childhood. The girl I made a pact with - to protect each other for life. The woman who destroyed my family, my future. And the only one who can save my daughter. Set against the dramatic backdrop of India, A Sister's Promise is a powerful, emotional tale of family secrets, love and the ties that bind sisters together. 'Renita D'Silva is a genius at evoking the sounds, sights and aromas of India. See my review here

The French For Christmas by Fiona Valpy

Evie used to LOVE Christmas, but this year she can’t wait for the tinsel and presents to be a distant memory. When her best friends offer the use of their cottage in the beautiful French countryside, Evie jumps at the chance. With her soon-to-be-ex-husband, celebrity chef Will Brooke, plastered over the news with his latest ‘love interest’, leaving the country seems like the perfect plan. Armed with her French grandmother’s tattered notebook of recipes, Evie is determined to ignore Christmas altogether and bake herself back to happiness. And when Evie meets her next-door neighbour – the très gorgeous doctor Didier she finds a very willing taste-tester. But is it possible that he could be interested in more than just her Tarte Tatin? With snow falling, a special Réveillon dinner and a little Christmas magic in the air, could Didier even be the one to thaw Evie’s heart? See my review here

Summer Flings and Dancing Dreams by Sue Watson

Laura Watkin’s heart isn’t broken, she’s just forgotten how to use it. After years on her own, the highlight of single mum Laura’s week is watching Strictly Come Dancing with a glass of Pinot Grigio and a large helping of imagination. With her daughter Sophie going travelling, Laura knows the time is right to do something for herself for a change. One disastrous Zumba class later and Laura ends up at the feet (literally) of gorgeous dance instructor Tony Hernandez. A natural dancer and inspiring teacher, Tony rekindles in Laura a passion she inherited from her ballroom dancer father – and with it comes a dream… to make him proud. But when Tony enters them to perform at the National Dance Festival, can Laura’s new-found confidence survive the test? And with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn Flamenco in Spain, could Laura truly learn to dance like nobody’s watching… and love like she’ll never get hurt? See my review here

Summer By The Sea by Jenny Hale

For Faith the one summer she can’t forget is when she fell in love as a teenager – only for her sister, Casey, to steal her man. Now, at the request of her beloved ninety-year-old Grandmother, Faith has agreed to a family holiday – at their childhood beach house, where it all began. Faith hasn’t seen her sister in years but is finally ready to forgive and forget, enjoy the sunshine and relive happy memories. What she’s not ready for is meeting Jake Buchanan – the owner of the beach house – or the long-forgotten feelings he ignites in her. Can Faith overcome the hurt of the past, rekindle the close bond she had with Casey and make this summer THE ONE to remember? See my review here.

The Girls Guide to Getting Hitched by Sophie Hart

When new mum and events planner Julia Crawford is given the opportunity to plan three weddings, she jumps at the chance. What could possibly go wrong? Forget bridezilla, Aimee’s future mother-in-law is the stuff of nightmares – hell bent on taking over the wedding entirely. Worse still, her fiancé, Jon, seems oblivious. Aimee’s starting to wonder if she and her groom-to-be are right for each other after all. Body shy Debbie is on a mission. She’s determined to shed a lot of pounds before the big day. As the wedding inches closer, will the new Debbie lose sight of what’s really important? Gill loves Mike and their blended family of five kids to bits, but with a house full of teenage hormones and her eldest, Kelly, struggling with so much change, Gill is feeling the pressure. As the women bond over cake and a cuppa, can they each resolve their wedding woes before the big day? See my Review here.

Evil Games by Angie Marsons

When a rapist is found mutilated in a brutal attack, Detective Kim Stone and her team are called in to bring a swift resolution. But, as more vengeful killings come to light, it soon becomes clear that there is someone far more sinister at work. With the investigation quickly gathering momentum, Kim finds herself exposed to great danger and in the sights of a lethal individual undertaking their own twisted experiment. Up against a sociopath who seems to know her every weakness, for Detective Stone, each move she makes could be deadly. As the body count starts to mount, Kim will have to dig deeper than ever before to stop the killing. And this time - it’s personal. Read my review here.

Synopsis: With each twist of the knife, a chilling new journey begins . . . From a woman intent on bizarre revenge, to a restaurant critic with a morbid fear of the number thirteen; and from a man arranging a life-changing assignation, to a couple heading for a disaster-filled vacation . . .

In multi-million-copy bestselling author Peter James' collection of short stories we first come to meet Brighton's finest detective, Roy Grace, and read the tale that went on to inspire James' hugely successful novel, Dead Simple. James exposes the Achilles heel of each of his characters, and makes us question how well we can trust ourselves, and one another. Each tale carries a twist that will haunt readers for days after they turn the final page . . .

Combining every twisted tale from the ebook bestsellers Short Shockers One and Short Shockers Two, with a never-seen-before collection of new material, A Twist of the Knife shows Peter James as the undisputed grand master of storytellers with this sometimes funny, often haunting, but always shocking collection.

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kat’s Review: I’m certainly, like many others, a fan of Peter James and his infamous Roy Grace Series. I’m not however a fan of short stories. Thankfully this was a great collection and I was actually impressed by how much I enjoyed them. I just re-read that and don’t mean it to sound condescending, it’s just in terms of how much I dislike short stories…that’s what I meant!

This series of stories totals thirty and there are 2 featuring Roy Grace. IN addition to the fictional short stories there are some which are factual accounts just told by Peter James. I wouldn’t want to go into the details of all the stories, there seems little point. What I would say is that this is a nice way to read many stories by the man himself and get a feel for his style of writing.

Although I still am not a fan of short stories and collections, this was pretty good. It was an added bonus that a couple featured Roy Grace, but even those without show the skill and talent that have kept Peter James up there as a Bestselling British Author.

Synopsis: When a skeleton is discovered hidden at the top of a crumbling, gothic building in Edinburgh, Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pirie is faced with the unenviable task of identifying the bones. As Karen's investigation gathers momentum, she is drawn deeper into a dark world of intrigue and betrayal.

Meanwhile, someone is taking the law into their own hands in the name of justice and revenge -- but when present resentment collides with secrets of the past, the truth is more shocking than anyone could have imagined . . .

Kat’s Rating: 4/5

Kats’ Review: For some reason I have only read one other Val McDermid book, so I made sure to put this on my to read list. I actually picked this up a couple of months ago but after the first couple of chapters put it back down. Sometimes, I know I’m not in the mood for a book so I go back to it and in this case I’m glad that I did. The story features an introduction where a skeleton is found hidden iside an Edinburgh building. Detective Chief Inspector Karen Pirie is called to the scene and takes the case hoping to draw some sort of a conclusion.

Karen and her colleague Detective Constable Jason Murray were quite likeable and although at times Murray seemed somewhat unpredictable. In addition to this discovery there are a couple of story threads that at first glance are just additional parts to the story that garner no links. IN all honesty I wondered in the early stages of the book why these were here . However, the latter part of the book certainly made up for the slow start because the plot threads start to make a little more sense and all seemingly come together.

I certainly like McDermid’s writing style and I was certainly immersed in the story. For me this particular book was a little bit slow to start with but the second half of the book more than made up for it and it is certainly worth a read. I have heard so many good things about Val’s series featuring Carol Jordan and Tony Hill I really must make a start on catching up on this series.

Synopsis: First class is about to get dangerous . . . Pure Air's new LuxeLiner is flying from London to LA - its inaugural journey - with a first-class cabin packed with A List celebrities. As the feuding crew compete to impress their famous passengers, the handsome pilot tries to win the attention of a pretty young stewardess.

But one VIP singer is battling something seriously sinister: watching her every step is a very determined stalker, someone who will go to any lengths to get the star to satisfy their desires. At thirty thousand feet there is nowhere to run, and nowhere to hide . . .

Kat’s Rating: 3/5

Kat’s Review: Okay first of all I am a HUIGE RC fan, and normally I end up waxing lyrical about her new stuff but this one for me was nowhere near as good as her other stuff. The first thing that struck me was the fact that the cover is completely different from her other covers. I have to say I’m not a huge fan of the new style and absolutely loved the ‘Shoe’ style covers in the older books. This latest release is mainly set around Pure Air’s new Luxe Liner which is flying a bunch of celebrities over to ‘La La Land’ (Los Angeles for those that were wondering). Initially we meet Catalina who appears to be star of the show and is certainly an A plus celebrity. With worldwide fans and a stalker to boot she seems to be much in demand. She was actually quite likeable as a character.

The additional characters in play featured in and out of the story but Catalina was the star of the show. The major plot featured Catalina’s ‘stalker’ and to be honest it had that real old fashioned murder mystery feel to it, so much so that at some point in the book I had in my own mind accused every character of being guilty. This is certainly a Chance book and there are some very funny moments and especially bitchy characters, but like I said it felt like something was missing.

It certainly kept me entertained, but over the last few books she has produced maybe I have set the bar too high and expect a 5 star book EVERY time I read one. This certainly isn’t a bad book, but if I’m bring completely honest there was that certain something missing so it just ends up sitting in the middle of the road. Not awful by any stretch, but the last of her books I read Killer Queens was SO good that nothing comes anywhere close to it at the moment!